Governors' Action Plan II

Cover image of the Governors' Action Plan 2 Photo credit: Gulf of Mexico Alliance Governors' Action Plan

Building on successes of the first Action Plan, the Gulf States and their partners developed the Governors’ Action Plan II, a farther-reaching, five-year regional plan that looks to expand partnerships. The core goals of the 2006 Action Plan were to build partnerships and lay a foundation for a true regional approach. This Action Plan II sets a course for actions designed to improve the health of coastal ecosystems and economies of the Gulf in ways that a single entity could not achieve. It is a strategy for tangible results in the following priority areas.

Click on the pdf below for a copy of the Governors' Action Plan II:

Governors' Action Plan II for Healthy and Resilient Coasts (pdf, 2.58 MB)

Challenges

Actions identified in the Action Plan II collectively address four major challenges to healthy and resilient communities in the Gulf region.

(1) Sustaining Gulf Economy

The Gulf of Mexico region is a vital economic engine for the nation, supplying trillions of dollars annually to the U.S. economy and providing jobs for millions of people. For the same reasons that it is a popular destination for tourism and recreation, the Gulf Coast is a popular residential area as demonstrated by the overwhelming population growth in the region in the last 30 years. The Gulf is a proven ground for major marine industries such as commercial seafood, oil and gas production, and shipping. If not properly balanced, a thriving Gulf Coast economy can present challenges to healthy ecosystems and their natural functions. The actions outlined in the chapters of this Action Plan II strike a balance between continued economic growth and healthy and sustainable coastal communities.

(2) Improving Ecosystem Health

Much of the economic activity in the Gulf Coast is dependent on or related to a healthy Gulf ecosystem. Coastal and marine planners in the Gulf region are faced with a complex environment in which to make difficult decisions regarding protection, restoration, enhancement, and management of various coastal and natural resources. There are numerous threats to the Gulf, including one of the world’s largest zones of hypoxia, or areas of water with little to no oxygen. Each year, the hypoxic zone negatively affects the region’s seafood production, illustrating the enormity and complexity of the threats facing the region’s ecosystem and, subsequently its economy. This Action Plan II provides a blueprint for resource managers to evaluate loss and function of vital coastal resources that are not only the indicators of ecological health, but are the cornerstone to the region’s economy.

(3) Mitigating the Impacts of and Adapting to Climate Changes

Climate changes and the associated predicted sea-level rise cause physical changes to the Gulf Coast that adversely impact communities, infrastructure, and natural resources. Being aware of the relative vulnerability of coastal areas to climate change-related effects will help communities consider the longer-term costs associated with protecting natural resources, as well as themselves, including the costs of elevating or relocating their infrastructure and people. Certainly, the Gulf will continue to experience significant destructive coastal storms, but mitigation methods such as accurate mapping, tide level predictions, resilient land use plans, and habitat conservation and restoration can increase a community’s ability to “bounce back” after such events. The actions provided in this Action Plan II present methods for predicting ecological changes and enhancing both natural and built resources, thus creating more sustainable coastal communities.

(4) Mitigating Harmful Effects to Coastal Water Quality

From upland rivers to the Gulf of Mexico itself, water quality is inextricably linked to the economy of the Gulf Coast region and is influenced by a variety of factors, some of which are harmful to human health. For example, pathogens and harmful algal blooms can have negative impacts on beach water quality while nutrients and toxins can negatively affect coastal fisheries. Mitigation of these harmful effects is important to healthy ecosystems and sustainable communities. Accurate detection and monitoring can greatly improve beach safety and reduced stormwater runoff can greatly improve the health and safety of shellfish. This Action Plan II provides methods for mitigating these and other harmful effects of degraded coastal water quality on human health.

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